River Farm Venue Rental
- River Farm rental offers magnificent year-round views of the Potomac River and rolling vistas of the grounds from the Manor House and surrounding patio.
- We have an array of beautiful spaces for gathering for you to choose from, depending on event purpose, party size and style. Most of our venue rentals take place in your choice of:
- The Luxury Garden Tent, Now Open for Events.
- A newly upgraded luxury garden tent and spacious slate patio stands at 30 feet wide, 130 feet long, with chic panels and a conservatory appearance to let you and your guests take in the night sky as well as garden views down to the Potomac River.
- Our elegant tent features new, stylish crystal chandeliers and fans for seasonal comfort. The clear top and sides can be open or closed as desired, create the perfect setting for your vision to come to life by integrating the beauty of the lush gardens.
- We estimate the new expanded tent will accommodate up to (approximately) 260 seated guests.
- The Manor House Ballroom.
- Our chandeliered ballroom offers a beautiful and customizable space for indoor events of all kinds. The ballroom, which looks out onto the terrace with views of the gardens and the Potomac River, features elegant wood flooring and federal-style crown molding.
- The ballroom can accommodate 80 guests seated theater-style or 55 guests at round tables, while our parlor is a welcoming and elegantly comfortable space for up to 25 guests.
- The Manor House Parlor, Foyer, Dining Room, Porch and Portico offer space for dining and catering prep, bars, music, getting ready and family spaces. A member of our Rentals team can share inspiration for using the site to its full potential.
- Venue rental includes use of the 25-acre grounds for the ceremony design of your choosing, and moments on the Manor balcony for private photos of the couple. There is ample parking and access for vendor load-in and load-out on site, inquire for more details depending on party size.
- We offer complimentary ceremony rehearsal based on availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included?
- Clients have access to the Manor House, including the Foyer, Parlor, Dining Room, Ballroom, Butler’s Pantry, the grounds, including the Portico, Pergola, gardens, and area around the House, including the tent over the slated event patio. Clients typically have access to the Manor House at 1:00 p.m. on the day of their contracted event.
What is the maximum capacity?
- Maximum capacity depends on whether the event is planned as an indoor, outdoor, or a combination indoor/outdoor event. A standard rental contract includes the use of the on-site outdoor tent, which has a table seating capacity of up to 260 guests. If an indoor event is planned, our Manor House ballroom has a table seating capacity of 55 guests. Seating capacity varies and may be affected by the reception setup (band, dance floor, etc.). Inquire for further detailed planning.
What is the event time block for the rental?
- Your rental time block includes set-up and clean-up time for all vendors. On Friday and Saturdays, music must end by 10:30 p.m., and all event activities, including clean-up, must be finished by 11:59 p.m. Event time blocks are generally 1:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. but may begin before 1:00 p.m. with prior written approval from AHS. Rentals staff can provide further details about weekday events.
May I hold a date, and is there a fee for doing so?
- You may place a complimentary hold on a date for 30 days. In case of interest from another party, the hold gives you the right of first refusal. We will notify you and give you 48 hours to secure the date by signing a contract along with a 50% deposit. If you don’t commit to signing an agreement within the 48 hours, we will release the date to the other party.
What is the booking process?
- You may sign a contract at the time of your tour or at any time during the hold process. Half (50%) of the rental fee is due upon signing the contract, which is non-refundable. The remainder of the total rental amount is due 90 days prior to your event.
What is the cancellation policy?
- In the event that the renter cancels the reservation any time prior to the rental date, the entire deposit is non-refundable. If we are able to secure a wedding rental for the newly opened date, we will refund 50% of your deposit.
Do I need a full-time, part-time planner or day-of-coordinator?
- Yes, we require a licensed and insured professional planner. For all weddings taking place beginning January 2027, we require engagement with a planner in a full-time or part-time capacity. A day-of-coordinator alone will not suffice. The AHS staff will be present to have the house and grounds ready for your event, but we cannot fill the role of wedding coordinator. An AHS employee will be on-site during the entire event and will complete a Post-Event Checklist with the Coordinator/Wedding Planner and Caterers to ensure that the house and grounds have been returned to their original, pre-event condition. Planners are not allowed to leave the property until all contracted vendors have exited the premises.
What are the catering options?
- Through years of experience holding events at River Farm, we have established relationships with a group of local vendors who know our venue well and whose best-in-class services consistently contribute to beautiful and seamless weddings. We require clients to work with one of our Approved Vendors in only five key categories: planners, caterers, lighting experts, tenting, and restroom trailers. Our Vendor list, available upon request, also includes recommendations, but not requirements, for florists, photographers, music, and other vendor specialties. The choices are designed to provide extensive options to meet a diverse array of price points, styles, tastes, and vendor skill sets while saving our clients time and stress. Please inquire for our Vendor list.
What happens in cases of inclement weather?
- In the event of severe weather during outdoor scheduled events, activities can be moved inside the Manor House depending on group size. In cases of heavy snowfall, alternate tenting options may be required to proceed with tented events. Alternatively, the tent has closable side walls that can withstand inclement weather, allowing festivities to continue. Wedding ceremonies for up to 80 people can take place in the Manor House and, for more than that, in the tent. We advise our clients to work closely with their wedding planners on a contingency rain plan.
Do you allow me to store personal items before or after my event?
- Yes, we have the space available. Schedule your drop-off day and time with the event manager within 30 days of your event’s start date. Storage is limited, but we can generally accommodate storing your items for a few days before your scheduled event.
Are dogs allowed at River Farm?
- Yes, dogs and other pets are allowed on the premises. All animals must be leashed, always supervised, and well-kept.
Are there any restrictions on alcohol?
- Alcohol is permitted within the River Farm premises, both indoors and outdoors. Your caterer must provide written proof, no later than 30 days before the scheduled event, of a license to serve alcohol on the day of your event. Clients who would like to purchase their own alcohol are required to obtain proper licensing through Virginia ABC and coordinate with their caterer for service.
Are there any restrictions on music?
- Music must comply with Fairfax County noise ordinances, and all entertainment and amplified sound must be kept at a reasonable decibel level. River Farm is situated in a residential area, and we strive to be good neighbors. Policies such as event hours, music, parking, and others are set with regard to Fairfax County regulations.
What is not permitted at River Farm Grounds?
- River Farm is a historic public garden property with multiple restrictions enforced by Fairfax County. These restrictions include: no candles or other open flames, no sparklers, no balloons, no artificial confetti or petals, and no throwing rice or seeds. Please inquire for our complete list of restrictions.
Can I have my rehearsal at River Farm the day before my event?
- Yes, based on availability and other events, we generally allow access to the grounds for a rehearsal one or two days prior to your event, typically before 12:00 p.m. Please coordinate with the River Farm Rentals team to ensure that all parties have an opportunity to rehearse at the venue.
Need further assistance?
Contact River Farm Event Rental
Call 703.768.5700 ext. 138
Email rentals@ahsgardening.org